Slapping and tapping

[5StringBlues]

Our slide guitar player likes the contrast between the slide's smooth dynamics and the punch/stab of slap bass, so he likes for me to throw some of that in when he's taking a lead or singing or something. It gives some punch to what he's doing.

Actually, my first experience playing slap was because, early on in my playing, I'd get blisters on my plucking fingers. Slapping with my thumb was a way to give my fingers a break. Of course I didn't develop any fluency or fluidity at this stage, it was more necessity than anything.

Similar, l had been a middle and Index finger player for years. Then I started having problems with my middle finger locking up.


At that point I decided, for the sake of longevity, to learn to play with every technique I could think of.


One finger with wrist action, all thumb, slap, pick.


It has served me well the past 20 years, with no locking of my fingers since. It comes in handy on nights when my right hand is tight as well.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Not disagreeing with you, but for a guy like me (who's not, nor ever will be a professional musician, and does it just for fun), spending an inordinate amount of time to learn something that you'll never use is....well, a waste of time. (And at 46, self-employed with kids still at home, time is pretty precious.)

if you do it for fun, then why obsess over if the time is wasted? if it looks fun, try to learn it. if it doesn't then don't. you have zero aspirations so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Shenron]

Voted "partially", as they are very different.

Slapping isn't necessary in all genres, but it is quite genre-defining in others. Additionally, it is also THE iconic bass-only technique (not entirely true as you can slap on guitar as well, but it doesn't feel the same), so pretty much all bassists at some point will be asked if they can slap and need to decide if they want to learn it or not.

Tapping is an iconic guitar technique instead (largely abused for shows, but that's another matter), and it's very niche on bass because it's hard to make it sound musically on low frequencies.

 

[pepj]

Generally you need to keep it in perspective.
If you spend way way over 50% of your practice time on stuff you'll use in one track or part of one track, you'll likely compromise what you can play at the expense of others.
2 guys I know do that..and their slap parts are good, but not every song wants it and tbf, the good bands don't call them as the rest of their game isn't up to it. Nobody wants a bass solo for more than 4 measures either....if it really can't serve the song..
Sure, the bass player might argue for it but gtrs have bigger egos and the best gtrs will win.
No one I know will stop the odd lick if tastefully done and even then..forget 80's style. IME.

And if the only groove you can carry is a slap groove, I'd suggest you put work in elsewhere or start your own band.